Very Rare 1948 Jaeger LeCoultre Mark 11 RAF Military Issued RAF Pilot’s Watch 6B/346 with Provenance
SOLD
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Mark 11, alongside its relatively more common sibling, the IWC Mark 11, is perhaps the finest military mechanical timepiece ever produced. It is estimated that only 2,950 were issued to the military, with none ever sold to the public. It can certainly lay claim to being the original Pilot’s watch, and one of the most expensive commissions by a military, anywhere. Issued by the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), these watches were made to the very strict 6B/346 specifications, and as such, are of incredibly high quality. They were issued to navigators in the Royal Air Force (RAF).
This is one of the rarest and highest quality military watches out there. Much rarer than its IWC cousin with arguably an even better movement (although, that would be hard).
This is a lovely honest original example bought from the family and has never been in the trade. Original dial in good condition with original MoD Tritium lume.
The JLC singed Calibre 488/SBr movement is super sparkling clean, very well preserved hacking and keeping spot on tone as it should.
Find another one! The are genuinely rare watches.
Specs
Manufacture/Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Model Reference: Mark 11, 6B/346, (internally JLC E161)
Movement: JLC cal. 488/SBr
Dimensions: Approximately 35 mm diameter, 46.5 mm lug-to-lug, 13 mm height
Case material: Stainless Steel (“Staybrite”)
Crystal: Domed plexiglas
Lug size: 17 mm
Dial: 2nd Generation MoD Tritium “toothpaste” lume”. Attractive and bright.
Very Rare 1948 Jaeger LeCoultre 6B/346 Mark 11 RAF Military Issued Watch.
The word “rare” is overused in the context of vintage watches but in this instance, it is justified in that only 2,900 of these watches were ever specifically made for the RAF (and RAAF) and none for the civilian market. Few come up for sale and even fewer that have come directly from the Familiy of the original RAF personnel to whom it was issued and we have the Extract of his Military Service Record with the watch!
